The Dubai Tourism Projects Development Co has signed a Dh2.7 billion plus contract with a consortium of three leading UAE businessmen for a sprawling 80 million square foot Dubai Sports City, part of the Dubailand project.
The investors are Abdul Rahim Al Zarooni, Abdul Rahman Falaknaz and Abdul Rahman Bukhatir.Dubai Sports City is part of the 2 billion square foot Dubailand project that will involve investments of Dh18 billion.
It is one of Dubailands many facets designed to position Dubai as a leisure, tourism and entertainment capital of the region. Dubailand has 45 main projects with more than 200 sub-projects.
"We are pleased that local investors will execute the Dubai Sports City, especially since many organisations from within and outside the country showed interest in the project which is mainly a complete group of sports facilities on an international level," said Mohammed Al Gergawi, chairman of the Dubai Development and Investment Authority (DDIA).
"The announcement of this huge project a few days after launching Dubailand, the biggest and first project of its kind in the Middle East, shows the confidence of UAE and regional investors in the local economy and the high potential forthe growth of the tourism sector in Dubai."
DDIA, which is supervising the execution of Dubailand through the Dubai Tourism Projects Development Co., is holding talks with investors and groups within and outside the country who are interested in Dubailands numerous projects. "Negotiations on some projects have reached the final stage, and are expected to be announced soon," Gergawi added.
Dubai Sports City includes cricket, rugby, football, field and track and indoor sports such as basketball, handball, volleyball alongside facilities such as golf and cricket academies.
Abdul Rahim Al Zarooni, president of Al Zarooni Group, said, "We are pleased that Dubai Sports City, in which we plan to execute some projects, will be the first to be announced within Dubailand.
"This assures our commitment to the local economy and our confidence in the high potential of Dubailand which marks an ambitious vision that aims to establish the position of the UAE as a highly important destination on the map of international tourism."
The city will include an outdoor multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 25,000 people. The Dubai Sports City will also house a world-class golf academy.
The DSC will be built in two phases, with the first four-year phase involving the construction of sports stadiums along with the golf course and sports-related facilities. The second four-year phase will involve the completion of all activities envisaged.
Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, chairman of Bukhatir Investments Ltd, said "We will consider designing and executing facilities that will be capable of hosting international championships, including the cricket stadium that has a capacity of 25,000 people and is expected to host regional and international events regularly and is attached to a cricket academy."
Main features of the Dubai Sports City:* Golfing: DSC will have an 18-hole golf course along with a golf club with a world-class golf academy.
* Club house: A club house will have all leisure facilities including tennis courts and tennis academy, health spa etc.
* Cricket: A 25,000-seat capacity stadium for cricket with a cricket academy. This will hold international events.
* Rugby, football and track & field: A multi-purpose outdoor stadium for football and rugby along with a football academy and a track and field circuit. It will have 25,000-seating capacity.
* Hockey stadium: A 10,000-seat capacity hockey stadium.
* Indoor stadium: A multipurpose indoor stadium with a seating capacity of 5,000 to 8,000 can be used for sports like basketball, volleyball, handball, net ball, etc. and will be capable of holding concerts and shows as an entertainment centre.
* Riding club: A riding club on a membership basis will be set up offering riding and other equestrian facilities.
* Assorted facilities: Apart from the above, there will also be hotels, jogging/bicycle tracks, boulevards, restaurants, cafes, malls, mini malls, cinemas and retail outlets, medical clinic and other services - to provide a mini-township community.
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